SPA Modeler

Curtiss-Wright P-40CU
Unit: AVG (ex 54th FS USAAC)
SN: 9754P







Monogram P-40B Warhawk
c. 1964
1:48 scale
50 parts

Released in 1964 as a “Four Star” model, Monogram’s P-40B is a best seller.

• Overall, the kit has a number of features - detailed cockpit, seated pilot, optional open or closed canopy, working flaps and landing gear.
  The plastic is finely molded with delicate rivets and crisp panel lines overall.

Markings: Xtradecals “Early Curtiss P-40s Pt 2”


Point of Origin

I chose the simplest of kits and scheme because I want to build, fellas. I want to make something. My tax refunds covered the costs. Plus I wanna build like my Dad would to the sound of bluegrass and the taste of ice cold beer. I want to feel like I did at fourteen when we would go out to the barn with a workbench on the wall and there was no bullshit, nothing fancy. Lunch break at noon. Sandwiches and chips. You know the drill. Back at it until supper. Pure. Simple. No sweat or strain. Drink a beer in a chair at sunset. Favorite time of day. Pops I miss you.

I added some history below because I needed it. Your mileage may vary. I gotta tell you my heart is singing some beautiful love songs right now in Italian, and I am frankly not sure what day it is thanks to living and loving in different time zones.

Whether I am going to finish the above work is anyone’s guess. I certainly would not bet on me at this point, but I’m still getting cardboard boxes full of plastic parts off eBay too, not to collect but to build or with the intention to build. What is important for me: to honor my Dad and participate here and be of service to others. If I don’t finish I will feel it strongly because of him, and that’s not acceptable to me. I don’t want to let y’all down either.


Fei Hou

The handful of American mercenaries who scorched earth and sky in defense of China were officially known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG) and forever remembered as the Flying Tigers: the English translation of Fei Hou.

The AVG never had more than three squadrons of 18 P-40s at any time. Flying their first combat mission on December 20, 1941, the Flying Tigers operated under extremely difficult conditions at the end of the world’s longest supply line and with the war’s lowest supply priority.

Nevertheless, by the time the group disbanded six months later, its pilots had shot down 286 Japanese aircraft. During a period in the war when everybody else in the Far East was being soundly defeated by the Japanese, their achievements were truly phenomenal.

The AVG owed its success to the tactical doctrines developed by its leader, Colonel Claire Lee Chennault. A former USAAC fighter pilot who had carefully observed Japanese aircraft over China, Chennault understood the strengths and weaknesses of both the Japanese and American fighters. Using that knowledge, he established an advance warning system, which involved Chinese observers relaying information to AVG air bases.

He also drilled three fundamental rules into his pilots. First, never ever try to turn with a Japanese fighter in a dogfight, since it could maneuver its way onto a P-40’s tail within two turns; instead, use the P-40’s superior diving speed to escape, then climb and re-engage. Second, Chennault advocated head-on passes, because the Curtiss, with its two .50- and four .30-caliber machine guns, could outgun its Japanese army counterparts, which were still armed with only two 7.7mm weapons. The third rule was to harass the Japanese planes after they retired - since they lacked self-sealing fuel tanks, a few holes in their tanks would probably cause them to run out of fuel before they reached their home bases.

These three rules were the secrets of the Flying Tigers’ success.

You do wax poetic!

The words of a great American philosopher come to mind. “Get ‘er done!” - Larry the Cable Guy
Forget the AM, forget the AMS....just go build this for the fun of it.

Bruce, I think I stayed pretty focused when I built this kit, but I did use a Legend resin cockpit, some PE, and a vacform part for the sliding canopy.

http://www.yolo.net/%7Ejeaton/mymodels/ ... nop40b.htm



Sorry, I know, bad influence. But the shape of the kit is so good.

It’s a fun old kit Bruce. Just flow with it and ignore the urge to add or alter the kit. I love the sound of the shared time spent with your father building models and having a beer. Life is good. Live in the moment.

Stikpusher wrote:It’s a fun old kit Bruce. Just flow with it and ignore the urge to add or alter the kit. I love the sound of the shared time spent with your father building models and having a beer. Life is good. Live in the moment.

I often wish for more time with my Dad. I know he did some stick and paper stuff. I used to play with one of them while watching Sky King. Never saw it first hand. Fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, grab some chips and a Mason jar of Kool Aid and go outside and work on it.

Speedgraflex wrote:...I want to feel like I did at fourteen when we would go out to the barn with a workbench on the wall and there was no bullshit, nothing fancy. Lunch break at noon. Sandwiches and chips. You know the drill. Back at it until supper. Pure. Simple. No sweat or strain. Drink a beer in a chair at sunset. Favorite time of day. Pops I miss you.

Beer? At fourteen? That explains a lot!

Thanks in order

Lyle, I had to look up Larry the Cable Guy, the character and accent. My buddy Brad Carter does a similar thing with his acting career—although in Brad’s case it’s because his accent is permanent. He’s from Georgia. Setting accent aside, thank you so much for your sage advice. I believe your Gee Bee project served as a catalyst for mine, too.

Tom, thank you so much for your comments. You always bring great intel and humor to any project here. Much obliged, sir.

John Eaton, thank you so much for responding and thank you for your link. I just spent a wonderful ten minutes reading your comments and looking at your build documentation, and I could easily spend ten hours more studying all you brought to the kit. I encourage everyone to check out his build, too. Specific questions I have:

• 1. Do you or do you not paint the framing of the front windshield supports? So should the fascia be painted only? The kit shield has two vertical supports which I believe represent the interior bullet proof glass. Correct me and advise, please and thanks.
  
  2. How did you remove raised riveting details without removing the engraved panel lines? I would love to know the proper technique.

Carlos, thank you for your support. And I mean that sincerely. Also thank you for championing old kits and techniques, and being a great influence. Don’t melt too much in the exotic clime of Arizona. Stay frosty. Aliens are probably next and you’ll be needed to eliminate the threat... or teach them how to cook cow meat instead of leaving it tartare style on the plains. Either option I’m sure you got covered.

Lyle, I believe the line from my Dad was, “If he’s old enough enough to tap a keg, he’s old enough.” Looking forward to sharing a real home cooked meal and a cold one with you one day soon.

Bruce, I'd be honored to cook a meal for you and to share a cold one. Come on down. Saturday is smoked port butt, collard greens, German potato salad, tossed salad and strawberry shortcake!

I would have enjoyed knowing your Dad, too! Any pictures?

Real food

I have not had a home cooked meal in a long, long time—I live vicariously through your Facebook posts so I know you know what you’re doing with a skillet. I do have two proper cast iron skillets that were handed down through the family and also a very old great grandfather owned Greener shotgun too, which is in storage. Survival tools of the apocalypse as well as necessities for living. I have photos on film of my Dad during those early years. I’ll look see.

Windshield frame reference. Also most of the AVG “pro” photos should be credited to this fella: